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Mechanics of Solids - Beams Tutorial 3 The Deflection of Beams
Mechanics of Solids - Beams Tutorial 3 The Deflection of Beams
TUTORIAL 3
THE DEFLECTION OF BEAMS
This is the third tutorial on the bending of beams. You should judge your
progress by completing the self assessment exercises.
On completion of this tutorial you should be able to solve the slope and
deflection of the following types of beams.
A cantilever beam with a point load at the end.
A cantilever beam with a uniformly distributed load.
A simply supported beam with a point load at the
middle.
A simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed
load.
You will also learn and apply Macaulays method to the solution for beams
with a combination of loads.
Those who require more advanced studies may also apply Macaulays
method to the solution of ENCASTR.
It is assumed that students doing this tutorial already know how to find
the bending moment in various types of beams. This information is
contained in tutorial 2.
D.J.DUNN
DEFLECTION OF BEAMS
1. GENERAL THEORY
When a beam bends it takes up various shapes such as that illustrated in figure 1. The
shape may be superimposed on an x y graph with the origin at the left end of the beam
(before it is loaded). At any distance x metres from the left end, the beam will have a
deflection y and a gradient or slope dy/dx and it is these that we are concerned with in
this tutorial.
We have already examined the equation relating bending moment and radius of
M E
curvature in a beam, namely
I
R
M is the bending moment.
I is the second moment of area about the centroid.
E is the modulus of elasticity and
R is the radius of curvature.
Rearranging we have
1 M
R EI
Figure 1 illustrates the radius of curvature which is defined as the radius of a circle that
has a tangent the same as the point on the x-y graph.
Figure 1
Mathematically it can be shown that any curve plotted on x - y graph has a radius of
curvature of defined as
d2y
2
1
dx 3
R
dy 2
1 dx
D.J.DUNN
In beams, R is very large and the equation may be simplified without loss of accuracy to
1 d2x
R dy 2
hence
d2x M
dy 2 EI
or
M EI
d2x
............(1A)
dy 2
D.J.DUNN
Figure 2
The bending moment at any position x is simply -Fx. Substituting this into equation 1A
we have
d2y
EI 2 Fx
dx
dy
Fx 2
Integrate wrtx and we get
EI
A...................(2A)
dx
2
Fx 3
Integrate again and we get
EIy Ax B ................(2B)
6
A and B are constants of integration and must be found from the boundary conditions.
These are
at x = L, y = 0 (no deflection)
at x = L, dy/dx = 0 (gradient horizontal)
FL2
FL2
EI(0)
A
hence A
2
2
2
FL
substituteA
, y 0 and x L nto equation 2B and we get
2
FL3 FL3
FL3
EI(0)
B
hence B 6
2
3
2
3
FL
FL
substituteA
and B into equations 2A and 2B and the complete equations are
2
3
dy
Fx 2 FL2
EI
..................(2C)
dx
2
2
Fx 3 FL2 x FL3
EIy
..................(2D)
6
2
3
The main point of interest is the slope and deflection at the free end where x=0.
Substituting x= 0 into (2C) and (2D) gives the standard equations.
Slope at free end
dy FL2
..................(2E)
dx 2EI
D.J.DUNN
FL3
..................(2F)
3EI
4
dy FL2
5000 x 4 2
ii. Deflection
Using formula 2F we have
FL3
5000 x 4 3
y
- 0.002 m
3EI
3 x 53.3 x 10 6
D.J.DUNN
Figure 3
The bending moment at position x is given by M = -wx2/2. Substituting this into
equation 1A we have
d2y
x2
EI 2 w
2
dx
dy
wx 3
Integrate wrtx and we get
EI
A...................(3A)
dx
6
wx 4
Integrate again and we get
EIy Ax B ................(3B)
24
A and B are constants of integration and must be found from the boundary conditions.
These are
at x = L , y = 0 (no deflection)
at x = L, dy/dx = 0 (horizontal)
Substitute x = L and dy/dx = 0 in equation 3A and we get
wL3
wL3
EI(0)
A hence A
6
6
Substitute this into equation 3B with the known solution y = 0 and x = L results in
wL4 wL4
wL4
EI(0)
B hence B
24
6
8
Putting the results for A and B into equations 3A and 3B yields the complete equations
dy
wx 3 wL3
EI
..................(3C)
dx
6
6
wx 4 wL3 x wL4
EIy
..................(3D)
24
6
8
The main point of interest is the slope and deflection at the free end where x=0.
Substituting x= 0 into (3C) and (3D) gives the standard equations.
dy wL3
..................(3E)
Slope at free end
dx 6EI
wL4
y
..................(3F)
Deflection at free end
8EI
D.J.DUNN
dy wL3
300 x 4 3
From equation 3E we have
wL4
300 x 4 4
0.00016 m
8EI
8 x 60 x 10 6
D.J.DUNN
(379 mm).
Figure 4
The beam is symmetrical so the reactions are F/2. The bending moment equation will
change at the centre position but because the bending will be symmetrical each side of
the centre we need only solve for the left hand side.
The bending moment at position x up to the middle is given by M = Fx/2. Substituting
this into equation 1A we have
d 2 y Fx
EI 2
2
dx
dy Fx 2
Integrate wrt x once EI
A..................(4A)
dx
4
Fx 3
Integrate wrt x again EIy
Ax B..............(4B)
12
A and B are constants of integration and must be found from the boundary conditions.
These are
at x = 0 , y = 0 (no deflection at the ends)
at x = L/2, dy/dx = 0 (horizontal at the middle)
putting x = L/2 and dy/dx = 0 in equation 4A results in
FL2
FL2
EI(0)
A
hence A
16
16
2
FL
substituteA
, y 0 and x 0 nto equation 4B and we get
16
EI(0) B
hence B 0
FL2
substituteA
and B 0 into equations 4A and 4B and the complete equations are
16
dy Fx 2 FL2
EI
..................(4C)
dx
4
16
Fx 3 FL3 x
EIy
..................(4D)
12
16
The main point of interest is the slope at the ends and the deflection at the middle .
Substituting x = 0 into (4C) gives the standard equation for the slope at the left end. The
slope at the right end will be equal but of opposite sign.
dy
FL2
........(4E)
Slope at ends
dx
16EI
The slope is negative on the left end but will be positive on the right end.
Substituting x = L/2 into equation 4D gives the standard equation for the deflection at
the middle:
FL3
....................................(4F)
Deflection at middle y
48EI
D.J.DUNN
2. A simply supported beam is made from a hollow tube 80 mm outer diameter and 40
mm inner diameter. It is simply supported over a span of 6 m. A point load of 900
N is placed at the middle. Find the deflection at the middle if E=200 GPa.
(-10.7 mm).
3. Find the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which limits the deflection to
1 mm at the middle. The span is 2 m and the point load is 200 kN at the middle.
(33.3 MNm2).
D.J.DUNN
Figure 5
The beam is symmetrical so the reactions are wL/2. The bending moment at position x
is
wLx wx 2
M
2
2
Substituting this into equation 1A we have
d 2 y wLx wx 2
EI 2
2
2
dx
2
dy wLx
wx 3
Integrate wrt x once EI
A..................(5A)
dx
4
6
wLx 3 wx 4
Integrate wrt x again EIy
Ax B..............(5B)
12
24
A and B are constants of integration and must be found from the boundary conditions.
These are
at x = 0 , y = 0 (no deflection at the ends)
at x = L/2, dy/dx = 0 (horizontal at the middle)
Putting x = L/2 and dy/dx = 0 in equation 5A results in
wL3 wL3
wL3
EI(0)
A
hence A
16
48
24
3
wL
substituteA
, y 0 and x 0 nto equation 5B and we get
24
EI(0) B
hence B 0
wL3
and B 0 into equations 5A and 5B and the complete equations are
24
dy wLx 2 wx 3 wL2
EI
..................(4C)
dx
4
6
24
wLx 3 wx 4 wL3 x
EIy
..................(4D)
12
24
24
The main point of interest is the slope at the ends and the deflection at the middle.
substituteA
Substituting x = 0 into (5C) gives the standard equation for the slope at the left end. The
slope at the right end will be equal but of opposite sign.
dy
wL3
..............(5E)
Slope at free end
dx
24EI
The slope is negative on the left end but will be positive on the right end.
Substituting x= L/2 into equation 5D gives the standard equation for the deflection at
the middle:
5wL4
................(5F)
Deflection at middle y
384EI
D.J.DUNN
10
5wL4
384EI
5 x 5000 x 4 4
- 0.002 384 x EI
y
dy
5000 x 83
2. A simply supported beam is made from a hollow tube 80 mm outer diameter and 40
mm inner diameter. It is simply supported over a span of 6 m. The density of the
metal is 7300 kg/m3. E=200 GPa. Calculate the deflection at the middle due to the
weight of the beam.
(-12 mm)
3. Find the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which limits the deflection to
1 mm at the middle. The span is 2 m and the u.d.l. is 400 N/m.
(83.3 kNm2)
D.J.DUNN
11
0.00106 m or - 1.06 mm
3EI
3 x 20 x 10 6
For the u.d.l. only
wL4
300 x 4 4
y
0.00048 m or - 0.48 mm
48EI
8 x 20 x 10 6
The total deflection is hence
y= - 1.54 mm.
400 x 10 -6
dx 2EI 2 x 20 x 10 6
For the u.d.l. only
dy wL3
300 x 4 3
160 x 10 -6
6
dx 6EI 6 x 20 x 10
The total slope is hence
D.J.DUNN
12
7.
MACAULAY'S METHOD
When the loads on a beam do not conform to standard cases, the solution for slope and
deflection must be found from first principles. Macaulay developed a method for
making the integrations simpler.
The basic equation governing the slope and deflection of beams is
EI
d2y
M Where M is a function of x.
dx 2
When a beam has a variety of loads it is difficult to apply this theory because some
loads may be within the limits of x during the derivation but not during the solution at a
particular point. Macaulay's method makes it possible to do the integration necessary by
placing all the terms containing x within a square bracket and integrating the bracket,
not x. During evaluation, any bracket with a negative value is ignored because a
negative value means that the load it refers to is not within the limit of x. The general
method of solution is conducted as follows. Refer to figure 6. In a real example, the
loads and reactions would have numerical values but for the sake of demonstrating the
general method we will use algebraic symbols. This example has only point loads.
Figure 6
1. Write down the bending moment equation placing x on the extreme right hand end of
the beam so that it contains all the loads. write all terms containing x in a square
bracket.
d2y
EI 2 M R 1 [x] - F1[x a] - F2 [x b] - F3 [x c]
dx
2. Integrate once treating the square bracket as the variable.
dy
[x] 2
[x a] 2
[x b]2
[x c] 2
EI
R1
- F1
- F2
- F3
A
dx
2
2
2
2
3. Integrate again using the same rules.
[x] 3
[x a]3
[x b]3
[x c]3
EIy R 1
- F1
- F2
- F3
Ax B
6
6
6
6
4. Use boundary conditions to solve A and B.
5. Solve slope and deflection by putting in appropriate value of x. IGNORE any
brackets containing negative values.
D.J.DUNN
13
Figure 7
The beam shown is 7 m long with an E I value of 200 MNm2. Determine the slope
and deflection at the middle.
SOLUTION
First solve the reactions by taking moments about the right end.
30 x 5 + 40 x 2.5 = 7 R1 hence R1 = 35.71 kN
R2 = 70 - 35.71 = 34.29 kN
Next write out the bending equation.
d2y
EI 2 M 35710[x] - 30000[x 2] - 40000[x 4.5]
dx
Integrate once treating the square bracket as the variable.
dy
[x] 2
[x 2] 2
[x 4.5] 2
EI
35710
- 30000
- 40000
A .....(1)
dx
2
2
2
Integrate again
EIy 35710
[x] 3
[x 2]3
[x 4.5]3
- 30000
- 40000
Ax B ......(2)
6
6
6
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
x = 0, y = 0 and x = 7 y = 0
Using equation 2 and putting x = 0 and y = 0 we get
[0]3
[0 2]3
[0 4.5]3
EI(0) 35710
- 30000
- 40000
A(0) B
6
6
6
Ignore any bracket containing a negative value.
0 0 - 0 - 0 0 B hence B 0
Using equation 2 again but this time x=7 and y = 0
[7]3
[7 2]3
[7 4.5]3
EI(0) 35710
- 30000
- 40000
A(7) 0
6
6
6
Evaluate A and A - 187400
D.J.DUNN
14
Now use equations 1 and 2 with x = 3.5 to find the slope and deflection at the
middle.
dy
[3.5]2
[3.5 2] 2
[3.5 4.5] 2
EI
35710
- 30000
- 40000
- 187400
dx
2
2
2
The last bracket is negative so ignore by putting in zero
dy
[3.5]2
[3.5 2] 2
[0]2
35710
- 30000
- 40000
- 187400
dx
2
2
2
dy
200x10 6
218724 33750 187400 2426
dx
dy
2426
D.J.DUNN
15
Figure 8
The beam shown is 6 m long with an E I value of 300 MNm 2. Determine the slope
at the left end and the deflection at the middle.
SOLUTION
First solve the reactions by taking moments about the right end.
30 x 4 + 2 x 62/2 = 6 R1 =156 hence R1 = 26 kN
Total downwards load is 30 + (6 x 2) = 42 kN
R2 = 42 - 26 = 16 kN
Next write out the bending equation.
d2y
wx 2
EI 2 M R 1 [x] - 30000[x 2] 2
dx
2
d y
2000x 2
EI 2 26000[x] - 30000[x 2] 2
dx
Integrate once treating the square bracket as the variable.
dy
[x] 2
[x 2] 2 2000[x] 3
EI
26000
- 30000
A .....(1)
dx
2
2
6
Integrate again
EIy 26000
[x] 3
[x 2]3 2000[x] 4
- 30000
Ax B ......(2)
6
6
24
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
x = 0, y = 0 and x = 6 y = 0
Using equation 2 and putting x = 0 and y = 0 we get
[0]3
[0 2]3 2000[0]4
EI(0) 26000
- 30000
A(0) B
6
6
24
Ignore any bracket containing a negative value.
0 0 - 0 - 0 0 B hence B 0
Using equation 2 again but this time x = 6 and y = 0
D.J.DUNN
16
[6]3
[6 2]3 2000[6]4
- 30000
A(6) 0
6
6
24
EI(0) 936000 - 320000 - 108000 (6) 6A
6A -508000
A - 84557
Now use equations 1 with x = 0 to find the slope at the left end.
dy
[0]2
[0 2] 2
[0]3
EI
260000
- 30000
- 2000
- 84557
dx
2
2
6
Negative brackets are made zero
dy
300 x10 6
-84557
dx
dy 84557
D.J.DUNN
17
1. Find the deflection at the centre of the beam shown. The flexural stiffness is 20
MNm2. (0.064 mm)
Figure 9
2. Find the deflection of the beam shown at the centre position. The flexural stiffness is
18 MNm2. (1.6 mm)
Figure 10
3. Find value of E I which limits the deflection of the beam shown at the end to 2 mm.
(901800 Nm2)
Figure 11
4. A cantilever is 5m long and has a flexural stiffness of 25 MNm 2. It carries a point
load of 1.5 kN at the free end and a u.d.l. of 500 N/m along its entire length.
Calculate the deflection and slope at the free end.
(-4.06 mm and 1.167 x 10-3)
5. A cantilever beam is 6 m long and has a point load of 800 N at the free end and a
u.d.l. of 400 N/m along its entire length. Calculate the flexural stiffness if the
deflection is 1.5 mm downwards at the free end.
(81.6 MNm2).
D.J.DUNN
18
7. Calculate the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which will limit the
deflection to 2 mm at the middle. The beam is 5 m long and has a point load of 1.2
kN at the middle and a u.d.l. of 600 N/m along its entire length.
(4 MNm2).
The beam has a solid rectangular section twice as deep as it is wide. Given the
modulus of elasticity is 120 GPa, calculate the dimensions of the section.
(168 mm x 84 mm).
D.J.DUNN
19
8.
ENCASTR BEAMS
An encastr beam is one that is built in at both ends. As with a cantilever, there must be
a bending moment and reaction force at the wall. In this analysis it is assumed that
there is no deflection at the ends.
the ends are horizontal.
the beam is free to move horizontally.
Figure 12
First let us consider two standard cases, one with a point load at the middle and one with
a uniformly distributed load. In both cases there will be a reaction force and a fixing
moment at both ends. We shall use Macaulays method to solve the slope and
deflection.
8.1
POINT LOAD
In this case RA = RB = F/2
The bending moment at distance x from the left
d2y
L
M EI 2 R A x F x M A
2
dx
end is :
2
d y
x
L
EI 2 F F x M A
2
2
dx
Figure 13
2
F x
2
dy
x
2
Integrate
EI
F
MAx A
dx
4
2
dy
Since the slope is zero at both ends it then putting
0 and x 0 yields that A 0
dx
2
F x
2
dy
x
2
EI
F
M A x......... .....(1)
dx
4
2
3
F x
3
x
x2
2
Integrate again
EIy F
MA
B
12
6
2
Since the deflection is zero at both ends then putting y 0 and x 0 yields that B 0
3
F x
3
x
x2
2
EIy F
MA
..............(2)
12
6
2
D.J.DUNN
20
The constants of integration A and B are always zero for an encastr beam but the
problem is not made easy because we now have to find the fixing moment M.
Equations 1 and 2 give the slope and deflection. Before they can be solved, the fixing
moment must be found by using another boundary condition. Remember the slope and
deflection are both zero at both ends of the beam so we have two more boundary
conditions to use. A suitable condition is that y = 0 at x = L. From equation 2 this yields
3
L
FL
M L2
FL3
2
EI(0)
A
12
6
2
3
L
F
3
M L2
FL
2
0
A
12
6
2
2
3
3
FL FL M A L
0
12
48
2
2
3
3FL M A L
0
148
2
2
MAL
3FL3
2
148
FL
MA
8
If we substitute x = L/2 and M A = -FL/8 the slope and deflection at the middle from
equations 1 and 2 becomes :
dy
FL3
0 ydx
192EI
D.J.DUNN
21
8.2
MA
2
2
dx
Figure 14
dy wLx 2 wx 3
Integrate
EI
MAx A
dx
4
6
dy
Since the slope is zero at both ends it then putting
0 and x 0 yields that A 0
dx
dy wLx 2 wx 3
EI
M A x......... .....(1)
dx
4
6
wLx 3 wx 4 M A x 2
Integrate again
EIy
B
12
24
2
Since the deflection is zero at both ends then putting y 0 and x 0 yields that B 0
EIy
wLx 3 wx 4 M A x 2
..............(2)
12
24
2
As in the other case, A and B are zero but we must find the fixing moment by using the
other boundary condition of y = 0 when x = L
wL4 wL4 M A L2
EI(0)
12
24
2
2
4
wL M A L
0
24
2
2
wL
MA
12
If we substitute x = L/2 and M A= -wL2/12 into equations 1 and 2 we get the slope and
deflection at the middle to be
dy
wL4
0 and y
dx
384EI
The same approach may be used when there is a combination of point and uniform
loads.
D.J.DUNN
22
Figure 15
2. Solve the value of EI which limits the deflection under at the middle to 0.2 mm.
(Ans. 11 MNm2)
Figure 16
D.J.DUNN
23